Page 23 - 23 What is the Sanctuary

cleansed,” unquestionably points to the

sanctuary in heaven.

But the most important question remains to

be answered: What is the cleansing of the

sanctuary? That there was such a service in

connection with the earthly sanctuary is

stated in the Old Testament Scriptures. But

can there be anything in heaven to be

cleansed? In Hebrews 9 the cleansing of both

the earthly and the heavenly sanctuary is

plainly taught. “Almost all things are by the

law purged with blood; and without shedding

of blood is no remission. It was therefore

necessary that the patterns of things in the

heavens should be purified with these [the

blood of animals]; but the heavenly things

themselves with better sacrifices than these”

(Hebrews 9:22, 23), even the precious blood

of Christ.